Published: Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 5, 2010 at 9:52 p.m.

A letter drafted by the city's equal opportunity director, Cecil Howard, cites specials giving ladies two-for-one drinks and admitting them into bars free before 11 p.m. as violations. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan said the letter will be sent in an effort to get bar owners to drop such specials.

"Most people voluntarily come into compliance," she said.

Members of the University of Florida's Community Alcohol Coalition - which brings together city, law enforcement and UF officials - discussed the effort Friday. Hanrahan warned the group the letter could lead bars to expand drink specials to cover both men and women.

"We may want to be aware of the potential for unintended consequences," she said.

But Jeff Bartholomew, general manager of the Swamp bar and restaurant, said he thought bar owners more likely would just drop such specials. He suggested the change might drive patrons to other bars, rather than discourage them from drinking.

"I don't think it's going to affect people going out, it's just going to affect where they go," he said.

The coalition, which is charged with addressing underage and binge drinking, first considered the idea last fall of using the discrimination law to stop specials for women. Higher-education officials had discussed changing state law to allow municipalities to regulate ladies nights and all-you-can-drink deals but backed off in the face of pressure from the alcohol industry.

Hanrahan said the state's discrimination law also could be used to stop ladies-night specials. She suggested those specials might lead to men taking advantage of women.

Some bars have specials letting women drink free from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., said Virginia Dodd, assistant professor of health education and behavior at UF. The specials can lead to women getting drunk before men even get to the bar, she said.

"You've already got women that have a two-hour head start, which puts them in a very vulnerable position," she said.

<p>Gainesville's equal opportunity office will be notifying bar owners that "ladies night" drink specials violate a city ordinance banning discrimination.</p><p>A letter drafted by the city's equal opportunity director, Cecil Howard, cites specials giving ladies two-for-one drinks and admitting them into bars free before 11 p.m. as violations. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan said the letter will be sent in an effort to get bar owners to drop such specials.</p><p>"Most people voluntarily come into compliance," she said.</p><p>Members of the University of Florida's Community Alcohol Coalition - which brings together city, law enforcement and UF officials - discussed the effort Friday. Hanrahan warned the group the letter could lead bars to expand drink specials to cover both men and women.</p><p>"We may want to be aware of the potential for unintended consequences," she said.</p><p>But Jeff Bartholomew, general manager of the Swamp bar and restaurant, said he thought bar owners more likely would just drop such specials. He suggested the change might drive patrons to other bars, rather than discourage them from drinking.</p><p>"I don't think it's going to affect people going out, it's just going to affect where they go," he said.</p><p>The coalition, which is charged with addressing underage and binge drinking, first considered the idea last fall of using the discrimination law to stop specials for women. Higher-education officials had discussed changing state law to allow municipalities to regulate ladies nights and all-you-can-drink deals but backed off in the face of pressure from the alcohol industry.</p><p>Hanrahan said the state's discrimination law also could be used to stop ladies-night specials. She suggested those specials might lead to men taking advantage of women.</p><p>Some bars have specials letting women drink free from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., said Virginia Dodd, assistant professor of health education and behavior at UF. The specials can lead to women getting drunk before men even get to the bar, she said.</p><p>"You've already got women that have a two-hour head start, which puts them in a very vulnerable position," she said.</p>